Cyclists gear up for Bike MS: Wild West Ride 2011

June 24, 2011

Texas Panhandle residents will pedal toward a world free of multiple sclerosis during Bike MS: The Wild West Ride 2011, presented by BP on Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17.
The race is aiming to raise $100,000 to fund multiple sclerosis research, along with programs and services for more than 56,000 Texans served by the National MS Society.
The annual two-day fundraising ride is fully-supported and features a scenic route from Amarillo to Canadian.
â€śThe ride instills a sense of hope to all those who participate: the hope that one day, no oneâ€™s mother, brother, sister, child or friend will be affected by multiple sclerosis,â€ť said Tony Ralf, Regional VP, Development Lone Star/Rio Grande for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
â€śTogether, we strive for a world free of MS, and we encourage everyone to make a commitment to get involved in the ride, not only as a personal challenge, but also because it will positively impact the thousands living with MS each day.â€ť
Registration for Bike MS: The Wild West Ride 2011 is $25, with registered cyclists required to commit to a minimum fundraising pledge of $250.
Those interesting in taking part can visit bikeMStexas.org to register to ride, form a team, volunteer, or make a donation.
Individuals interested in joining or creating a team can sign up online with co-workers, friends, family or neighbors. The ride is geared toward riders aged 12 years and older in various cycling levels from novice to more experienced.
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.